"This really isn't the situation I wanted you to proposition my ass again," Alex protested shakily. He put the bucket down between his feet, but he was still wracked with that shaky post-puke weak feeling. "Just water sporadically. Mostly not wanting to put anything in my mouth... hate to break it to you," he joked back with his own faint smirk when he took the bottle with a small, hesitant sip.

He only managed a bit before his stomach churned uncomfortably, so he didn't push it. "Isn't Cameron here to see you?" he asked but fell quiet at Chase's last comment. "You can't be anything but my boss. I'm going to be the one to say it because it pointless to dabble with any false hope. It just... was what it was. End of story. So, you're here as a friend. I appreciate it. But go home and get some sleep."